An efficient generation of a functionalized tertiary-alkyl radical for copper-catalyzed tertiary-alkylative Mizoroki-Heck type reaction.

α-Halocarbonyl compounds undergo β-hydrogen elimination to give conjugated olefins in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst. However, a copper/triamine catalyst system can induce the alkylative Mizoroki–Heck reaction of styrenes with tertiary-alkyl halides possessing a withdrawing group under very mild conditions. This reaction provides an efficient synthetic methodology for tertiary-alkylated styrenes.